jphilibert
AH member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2014
- Messages
- 20
- Reaction score
- 24
- Location
- Massachusetts USA
- Member of
- NRA, Shirley Rod and Gun Club, SCI, DU
Details:
Hunt area - at their property Woodstock farm in Swartruggens - huge number of great animals, I took my Blesbok, and the Bushbuck there but had opportunity on Wildebeest, Zebra, and a FANTASTIC old Waterbuck bull I am still kicking myself for passing up! We also hunted on other properties within a 90 minute drive of the main farm which provided a nice mix of terrain and species as well as an opportunity to see the surrounding area.
PH - Jan-Hendrik Liebenberg, a 26 year old who's skills far outpaced his young age. This guy is destined to become one of the premiere PH's in Africa in my humble opinion and I would gladly follow him into the bush at any time I could. All of our hunts were epic spot and stalks through what was often limited cover. His ability to not only see game (that my 46 year old eyes struggled to pick out) but to get us without being seen, heard, or winded into ranges at or just above 100 yards (longest shot was the Springbok at 175, but he was in an open plain so that's not bad) was outstanding. His professionalism, hard work, as well as deep admiration and respect for our quarry was exactly what I was looking for in a PH. We walked about 50 hard miles in 6 days and were it not for the food I would have surely lost weight!
Rifle- nothing exotic....Mossberg 4 x 4 30-06 with a Redfield 3 - 9x 40. I handloaded 180 gr Barnes TTSX and after much concern can tell you this was more than enough rifle for plains game. I debated this a lot prior to my trip in lieu of getting a 375 H&H but if anyone reading this is planning a trip stick with the "06" if you use it here in the states and are comfortable with it. Its all about bullet selection and shot placement and I for one am a HUGE fan of the Barnes TTSX after seeing how devastating it was. All animals, save embarrassingly the Springbok, were one shot kills. The Spingbok I shot a little low at 175 yards and went through the chest low and took out the poor guys opposite leg, he didn't go far and allowed an easy finishing shot. I was particularly impressed with the Wildebeest that was frontal shot a somewhere over 100 yards, Barnes ripped through his heart, lungs, and liver before stopping somewhere in his rumen. I never recovered the bullet but he went about 10 yards and piled up, I put an insurance shot in him but he would have no doubt in my mind expired from the first one if we gave him time. That beest was 175 kilos butchered so we estimated him around 300 kg on the hoof.
Here's the proof in pictures....
I know from reading threads here that many of you are addicted to hunting the Bushbuck. I have to say that I am now part of this group as well! Two other groups in camp shot their bigger spiral horned cousins the Kudu last week which far outweighed and sized this guy but I for one would rather have him in my collection. We hunted HARD for this guy. Three nights of stalking his area, first night had a clean shot and I blew it shooting right in front of him due to excitement and hearing him bark in jest as he ran off. Second night he came out 5 min too late and my old eyes could not collect enough light to make a clean shot so I had to pass. Third night he never showed so we decided to change our plan and come back pre-dawn the next morning. This was my last full day in country so the pressure was on and the temperature at 5:00 am was downright cold! Jan and I stood on the edge of his field in the darkness under a sky full of stars competing to see which of us would stay still the longest in the cold air. With a little divine intervention Mr. Bushbuck popped out at 6:05 with the first rays of sun filtering through. The rest....well the picture says it all.
Overall thoughts - As I stated I am now an official Africa Junky, thanks to all for that new addiction! There are things I would do different next time around but that's all part of the experience. Africa Maximum was a great first choice and I cannot say enough on the class of operation that Jacques and his crew run there. The lodging was very comfortable, the service outstanding, having the opportunity to eat gourmet meals out of everything that was shot in camp that week made all the better the experience. I would highly recommend Jacques Senekal and Africa Maximum for anyone looking for a fair priced, easily accessible (2 hour drive from OR Tambo) safari with lots of opportunities in the concessions he has access to. Thanks. Looking forward to comments.
Jeff
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